Tristan Smith has spent his whole life surrounded by politics — providing him a first-hand look at the importance of civic engagement and government.
Smith is a proud graduate of Swampscott High School whose parents met in Lynn and siblings grew up in Marblehead. After attending Salem State University and Suffolk University Law School, he is now one of six candidates running to serve all three communities as the 8th Essex District Representative.
Smith’s father, Jim Smith, represented Lynn for four terms as a state representative. His aunt, Deborah Smith Walsh, served as a Lynn City Council member, and his cousin, Steve Walsh, represented Lynn and Nahant as a state representative.
“Growing up around [politics] meant having the belief that civic engagement is important and government is here to make people’s lives better,” Smith said. “With my upbringing and my skill set, making the world a better place means public service.”
While campaigning, Smith still finds time to coach cross country and track and field at St. Mary’s High School in Lynn. He said his time teaching and coaching has taught him how to successfully organize and build coalitions.
Smith said as an entirely seaside district, the next 8th Essex District representative must be a strong advocate for the environment. He added that he is in support of cleaning up King’s Beach, which has one of the lowest water quality ratings in the Commonwealth.
“Studies show that it’s warming in New England faster than the rest of the planet,” Smith said. “We have to act on it now.”
Public transit is a key priority for Smith, who got to know first-hand how difficult it can be to commute from the North Shore into downtown Boston.
“We have to make sure that the North Shore is speaking up and telling the state that we need to be able to access the City of Boston,” Smith said. “It’s only 15 miles south of us.”
Specifically, Smith said he would like to see the Commuter Rail schedule become more consistent and the Blue Line, which currently concludes at Wonderland in Revere, extend further north.
“Massachusetts is a real leader in many ways — in health care, in climate, in social justice — but sometimes even we get snagged on some issues,” Smith said. “Sometimes we are behind.”
Smith is also in support of state-funded block grants to incentivize affordable housing in the district, defending reproductive freedom, and ensuring the criminal justice system is focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
In pursuit of a future where everyone knows their state representative, Smith is knocking on thousands of doors this summer, meeting people and getting to know local businesses.
“At the end of this, win or lose, I’m going to have a deeper appreciation for this district and these people,” Smith said. “I’m still going to be living here afterward whether I’m the representative or not and that makes me really happy because I’m going to remember all these great people and great places.”
